Key container



y July 16, 1940. c. KIRKPATRICK KEY CONTAINER Filed Feb. 20, 1939 nl -llllllvllll .1.-- i l i v l` Patented July 16, 1940 Y l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY ooNTAINE p vClifford Kirkpatrick', Minneapolis, Minn.

Application February 20, 1939, Serial No. 257,398

claims. l(ci. vii-45s) My invention provides a simple and highly way to indicate the character of the key held eflicient key container adapted to normally enby the particular key carrier. As best shown in case a plurality of keys combined with means Fig. 2, these key carriers, in side elevation, are for selectively projecting the keys from the casof bell-shaped form, that is, the arms I4 project i ing, y from the spring plates I3, in the planes thereof 5 Generally stated, the invention consists of the and at approximately right angles thereto. novel devices, combination of devices and ar- Between lthe several key carriers are spacing rangement of parts herein described and dewashers I6 that freely` slide on the spindle I2 but lined in the claims. are held against rotation by suitable means such )e In this improved arrangement the keysare as key lugs Il on the said Washers that work in a normally conned within the casing and each groove I8 in said spindle I2.

key has its own carrier, which when selected Yielding means, preferably in the form of a and properly moved, projects the particular key small coil spring, is placed on the spindle I2 and` out of the casing ready for use. compressed between the adjacent side of the '.5 In the accompanying drawing which illuscasing I0 and the key carriers. This spring fric- 15 trates the invention in its preferred form, like tonally presses the several key carriers together characters indicate like parts throughout the and keeps the Vplates I3 thereof pressed fricseveral views. tionally against the respective keys. The keys Referring t"o the drawing: are indicated by the character K, and these keys Fig. 1 is a-perspective showing the complete are provided with the customary perforations 20 device; f in their heads that adapt them to be pivotally Fig. 2 shows the device held in the hands of mounted on inwardly pressed tlllnnOnS 01 lugs an operator with one key projected for use; 2U- Wlh this arrangement the keys can be Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of readily sprung into or out of pivotal engagement ,5 Fig 1; with the spring plates of the respective key car- 25 Fig. 4 is y'a section taken on the line 4-4 of riers; and when the keys are thus applied, they Fig. 1; will be capable of pivotal movement on the trun- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section showing parts nions 20 but will be frictionally held against such of the casing on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1; pivotal movement and will be positively held Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section with some parts against lateral swaying movements and, hence, 30

sectioned on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3; in proper alignment with the respective key pas- Fig. 7 shows one of the keys and its carrier sages or slots II. In their hubs the plates I3 are removed from the casing; formed.. with holes 2| that adapt them to be Fig. 8 is a perspective showing one of the key slid on to the non-rotary spindle I2. 3,-, carriers; and The heads I5 of the key carriers will be lo- 35 Fig. 9 is a perspective showing one 0f the` cated just outside of the slots or key passages spacer washers. III Where they may be readily engaged by the The casing I0 is preferably alight sheet metal finger and moved from full line to dotted line structure comprising at parallel sides and conposition in Fig. 3 and conversely. The keys 4U necting portions, the latter being formed with are preferably spring clamped by the plates of 40 parallel key passages or slots II. Both the upthe key carriers so that they will be held in line per and lower portions of the casing are rounded, with the clamping Plates and Will be Projected the upper portion being of larger diameter, and as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The slots the front and rear walls being connected to the Il extend not only to the front side but over the curved upper and lower portions. Extended crown of the casing so that the keys can be pro- 45 transversely through the curved `or semi-cylinjected as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. drcal upper portion vof the casing, is a non- It is sometimes desirable to provide the casrotary shaft or spindle I2 that is xed to the ing with a pivoted door 22. This door 22, as side walls of the casing and held against rota- Shown, iS pivted t0 the casing at 23 and has ,0 tion frictional engagement therewith at 24.

Rotatably mounted on the spindle I2 is a plu- The device described, While efficient for the ralityof key carriers, each of which is made up purposes had in view, may be produced at comof laterally spaced spring metal plates I3 having paratively small 00st. While the preferred form projecting arms I4 terminated in heads or the thereof has been illustrated, it will be understood like I5 which, in practice, will be marked som'e that the device as illustrated is capable of modi- 55 flcation within the spirit of in disclosed and claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the llnd described comprising acasing, a non-rotary spindle extended through said casing, anda plurality of key carriers independently mounted directly on said non-rotary spindle and provided at their extended portions with means for holding and carrying keys, the said key carriers having projecting arms adapting them to be independently manipulated from the y invention here;

` the exterior of the casing, said key carriers each `"comprising a pair of spring plates wardly pressed trunnion-iorming portions fen` having ingageable in holes in the head of the keys.

2. In a device of the kind described,a casing, a common spindle extended Within said casing, anda plurality of` key carriers independently pivoted on said common spindle and having projeoting arms adapting them to be independently manipulated, said key carriers further having radially projecting key holders engageable with the heads of the keys at points remote from the axis of said spindle and adapted to carry the keys bodily on the arc of a circle, the axis of which is the axis of said spindle.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which said key holders, remote from the axis of said spindle, have bosses adapted to engage seats in the heads of the keys.

4. In a device of the kind described, a casing, a common spindle extended within said casing, and a plurality of key carriers independently pivoted on said common spindle, said carriers having projecting arms adapting them to be independently moved pivotally on said spindle, sai/df carriers further having projecting arms equipped with means located oiset of the axis pf' said spindle and operative Vto independently/and detachably hold the respective keys projected from the axis of the spindle and with the keys located entirely outward of the axis of the spindle.

5. In a device of the kind described, a casing, a. common spindle extended within said casing, and a plurality of key carriers independently pivoted on said common spindle and having .projecting armsadapting them to be independently manipulated, said key carriers further having spring-acting key clamping elements adapted by friction to hold the respective keys projecting radially from the axis of said spindle and for' movement of said keys bodily around the axis of said spindle when the respective key carriers are moved on the axis of said spindle.

CLIFFORD KIRKPATRJCK. l 

